How to Keep Finding Work as a Freelance Writer

Help yourself stand out in the crowd

It’s not an easy time to find work. COVID-19 and all of the economic fallout that followed have left millions unemployed. With extra time on their hands, many people are considering freelance work.

I’ve been a freelance consultant for the past several years, focusing on the finance sector. Working for yourself has many advantages — setting your own hours, controlling your workload, independence — just to name a few. But it has its challenges, especially as today’s tight job market has made it more competitive than ever. How can you stand out in the crowd?

When you are a freelancer you need to consistently strive to improve your skillset, as well as stay in touch with your connections. Here are some ways I’ve found to differentiate myself and keep finding jobs in today’s competitive marketplace.

Refine your resume

Your resume is typically the first thing people see when you apply for a new opportunity. It’s critical to keep it up to date by frequently fine-tuning and adding new roles or skills, including relevant volunteer experiences. It can also be helpful to have more than one!

As a niche writer, my resume is chock full of experience pertaining to finance. But what if I want to apply to a position that is not in the finance field?

Much of my experience can be easily parlayed to any industry — project management, research skills, interview expertise, and editing. So I created another resume, adjusting the language to highlight my accomplishments that can be easily translated across industries.

Along with an up-to-date resume, it helps to have a cover letter. Many applications will ask for an introduction, and it’s another way to tailor your strengths to a particular job.

Network! Network! Network!

It may not be for everyone, yet it is probably one of the most foremost ways to find opportunities. A report from the Bureau of Labor stated that 70% of jobs are found through networking.

How to start? In my experience, I have found that mentioning in conversation that I am a freelance writer can translate into a job opportunity — either today or in the future. While the quality of your work will always stand out, having a person inside an organization traffic your resume is a definite bonus.

It happened to me.

Networking can happen in the oddest of places. I was chatting in the park with a new mom friend while our kids were on the swings. We started talking about work, and realized we were both in the finance sector. I told her I was a writer, and it turned out that her firm was looking for a writer. That conversation led to a new client and several projects. You never know where you will find your next opportunity!

Speaking of networking, LinkedIn is a great place to network, allowing you to connect with colleagues (past and present), college friends, business acquaintances — all without having to share any personal information.

Specifically made for business and employment opportunities, LinkedIn has several features to help you find new jobs. Just load your resume onto the site, and you can apply to positions anytime you have access to the app. LinkedIn allows you to build your network and connect. Using the platform’s mail function, you can correspond with your connections. It also allows you to share any new articles or accomplishments.

Besides networking, other ways to look for opportunities are free job posting sites such as Glassdoor, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, AngelList, and Nexxt. These sites allow you to customize your searches (part-time, contract, location), receive emails for new job positions, and instantly apply.

Many people also have great success in finding freelance jobs on Upwork. A freelancing platform, Upwork works somewhat differently than your traditional job posting site as both the job poster and the candidate are charged a fee.

Volunteer

Many non-profit organizations need marketing and writing assistance. Organizations such as Taproot match non-profit and social change firms with skilled volunteers. It’s a great way to share your expertise, sharpen your skills and give back at the same time.

Research

When speaking to a potential employer—full time or freelance—it is vital to know as much as possible about the company, the job function, and the interviewer. Was the firm recently in the news? Knowledge of the firm and the industry shows you are up to date on current events and well prepared.

Keep going

Didn’t get the job? Still looking? There is no better time than now to brush up on skills or get new ones. Look at past job descriptions and see where you needed more substance.

And if you got the job, great! Don’t let your skills or contacts lag. It’s vital for freelancers to stay on top of the latest news and trends in the industry of their choice, and to always be ready for the next opportunity.

If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking — Steve Jobs.

Good luck, and keep writing!